Ill Manors music video

Media Forms
How is it typical of a music video? 
(Use this PowerPoint on the key conventions of music videos to help you).

Media Representations
How does it represent the London riots/rioters?

Media Audiences
What audience pleasures does the music video offer?

Media Institutions
How does the music video help to promote the film?

Media forms

The music video follows a narrative that portrays London in many ways most people may not have known about before watching the video. This is done by using the various shots and the lyrics of the song. However, narrative doesn't include a start, middle and end but continuously highlights the quality of living in these run down estates in London which isn't nearly the way working class or classes above live. Also, the setting used adds to the narrative as it's set in a council estate in London which doesn't look pleasing to the viewers eye, especially considering the song was released the same time as the London riots which was round about when the Olympics was being held - in 2012. Therefore, if foreigners or people out of London were to see the music video, it could have potentially persuaded them to stay at home (where its safe) and watch it from there. In addition, the people involved in the music video look intimidating because they are dressed in dark clothes and cover their faces which implies they are trying to hide their identity from authority. Perhaps because they are going to commit a crime or they are wanted by the police. We can use the hypodermic needle to suggest the media are attempting to convince people that criminals are situated in council estates and are associated with certain clothing (black jackets and hats).

Furthermore, the music video used fast paced transitions which would tell a story in the three to four minute recommendation of a music video. The montage of violence, the London riots and other criminal behavior was able to present London very negatively which is the complete opposite of what people with authority show the World or want the World to see. Plan B's music video is controversial to that and the use of the montage impacts the viewer as they see the other side to London. Also, it would effect them because the various shots shown are utterly negative and it could make the audience speechless as they may not have known the criminal side to London. To be specific, the actual footage from the London riots was displayed as a montage with plenty of different shots to emphasise London isn't the welcoming city it is proclaimed to be.

In addition, the genre of the song is hip hop which associated with crime and Plan B's music video is set in the belly of it. Already, without seeing the music video, we can assume the song's lyrics and video will be affiliated with crime which it is. Not only do we see violence but we see the sort of costumes these criminals are accustomed of wearing. Perkins theory would suggest the music video is telling the truth about these 'council kids' wearing tracksuits, expensive clothing and really cheap clothing. The footage of the rioters is a real representation of how they dress which was mainly tracksuits because they were rioting looking for expensive clothes. The footage created for the music video was fictional but represented hood rats in a similar way by using the tracksuit clothing and hoodies.

Media representations

The fire used for destruction represents London rioters and London negatively. This is because fire is associated with danger and chaos which London was at the time of 2012. We can use medhurst's theory to suggest a story is told about youth of London in a short space of time in the three minute music video. We see there are mobs/gangs on young people throwing bottles, fighting people/police and causing explosions which infers they have no limit to the amount of chaos they can construct. 

Importantly, the aiding services of the metropolitan have an alternative representation as they are more violent and at times seem as frightened as the public are to the outcasters. With the London rioters, the police are very aggressive towards people who spout out abusive language (we can assume it's abusive) and  anyone who seems a threat. We can use the two step flow model to suggest people only create assumptions about the police and London rioters based on what the news informs them of. For example, a policeman who goes against the law would not be as/at all publicised as a criminal from a council estate. 

Also, from the music video 'council kids' have to make the most of their opportunities which isn't many. Plan B says 'feel the fear that's what we've learned, feel the fire let it burn'. This implies kids have to overcome the possibility of getting arrested and convert the fear into confidence. Plan B's argument here is that the youth don't get a chance in society to be part of it so have to opt out and become a criminal/outcast. The youth are represented as hopeless as the people around them don't have morals people from the lower classes and above have. Furthermore, Plan B has used his skills from going up as an outcast to create music which doesn't need to be formal because he may not have an education or a good one.

Media audiences

The music video is a protest about how the people in authority show no care for some of the working class and lower classes. Plan B has represented London rioters negatively, reinforcing how dangerous they are and can be if the Government don't show any signs of helping them (boycott law). If anything, the Government want these hood rats to be portrayed in a negative light because they use the media to release the crime committed by people from council estates instead of the bright and positive stories some of them may have. Plan B says, 'Keep on believing what you read in the papers "Council kids scum of the Earth"'. This emphasises the Government are allowing council estate kids to be treated as an outcast to society and even they don't want
them affiliated with the British society. 

From the psychographic graph I believe the target audience would be strugglers as the protest appeals more to them. Plan B gives this group a voice in the form of a song instead of speech which could suggest he is part of the outcast and represents them as being uneducated which is why there isn't a formal educated speech. In addition, with the lyrics strugglers would be able to relate to it and feel as if they now have a group in society which may be accepted by the rest of society. However, the song is controversial as Plan B talks about committing crimes in his song which is alternative to reason he produced the song in the first place.

The audience would enjoy the song because they are a fan of Plan b. The producer of the song is Plan B and many of his fans are probably not from council estates. Therefore, it could be used as a form of entertainment and at the same time the audiences of his songs that aren't strugglers would be able to find out the quality of life in estates that aren't being financially supported by the Government. So more people would be able to hear the protest and spread the word about it.

Media institutions

Synergy is used with the music video and the film as some of the cast from the film are in the music video. The cross promotions comes from the title of the song and the title of the movies. This means that audiences would be able to assume the extras from the music video have similar characterisitcs and experiences to those from the film. For example, a character who is a thief could have influenced many other council kids around him to become thieves as well. 

Also, social networking would allow Plan b's fans to find out about the film through the music video. This is because Plan B probably would have had created hastags, having an account dedicated for the film which would be connected with the music video. For example, if a fan were to listen to his music and enjoy it. They would definitely want to watch the film that is promoted a few months after the music video's release. 

Research
It was funded by 679 which is a warner music group which is based in London. This information comes from Wikipedia. The song was released in 2012 before the release of the movie Ill Manors which would hit the top of the UK charts which would then attract many institutions to help produce Ill Manors. There were thirty eight thousand companies which were sold in the first week. The newspaper of The Guardian (tabloid) would have negative reviews about the song as they attract people who are lower middle class, middle class and upper class. The hypodermic needle would suggest they are trying to reinforce the stereotype of youngsters living in estates as being criminals.